Ben Davis quarterback Reese Taylor smiles for a photo after being surprised with the announcement that he had been chosen for the 2017 Mr. Football honor, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)Buy Photo

BLOOMINGTON – IU coach Tom Allen’s first full recruiting cycle has reached December signing day, and his staff has managed to assemble a class whose rankings both in the Big Ten and nationally hold up against the best work Indiana has done in recent years.

In particular, this year’s haul has brought in necessary help at a number of skill positions, deepened the Hoosiers at quarterback and even landed a kicker. Here are five players to watch as the 2018 class points toward Bloomington:

QB/ATH Reese Taylor, Ben Davis

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The Giants QB is a leading contender for 2017 IndyStar Mr. Football.
Clark Wade / IndyStar

Whatever buzzwords you digest this signing day, know there is one truism that ranks above all others in football recruiting: coaches love players who give them options. Allen has that in Taylor, this year’s IndyStar Mr. Football and as versatile and exciting of a prospect as any in this class. It was widely assumed Taylor, a quarterback at Ben Davis, would move to a skill position in college, like wide receiver or cornerback. Then he exploded as a senior, completing more than 73 percent of his passes for 3,150 yards and a school-record 40 touchdowns. He also ran for 15 scores. Now, there’s a possibility IU could leave Taylor behind center in college, or at least design some packages for him to run at quarterback. Again, coaches love options.

CB Jaylin Williams, Germantown (Tenn.)

Jaylin Williams may have a chance at early playing time as IU looks to replace Rashard Fant at corner.(Photo: Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal, Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

Williams is an interesting case. He’s a four-star prospect, according to 247Sports. He originally committed to Ole Miss but flipped some time ago, picking IU from an offer list that also included Missouri, Arkansas State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Virginia, Washington State and Wake Forest. Indiana lost a defensive cornerstone this year in Rashard Fant. It has candidates to replace him. Could a promising defensive back from Tennessee manage to toss his name into the ring?

QB Michael Penix, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Tech

2018 quarterback Mike Penix Jr.(Photo: Wayne McGahee III/Democrat)

It’s cliché to put quarterbacks on these lists, but sometimes clichés are what they are for a reason. Penix is particularly intriguing because a) Indiana dealt with persistent questions at quarterback last season, b) Richard Lagow, the most consistent answer, has graduated, and c) Penix is expected to enroll early. Originally a Tennessee commit, the 6-2 signal caller can move outside the pocket as well, something Allen clearly wants from the position long-term. He picked IU over Florida State and South Florida, among others. Given extra time in the spring, Penix could conceivably work his way into the quarterback battle next season.

DE James Head, Miami Southridge

Since Allen’s arrival, Indiana has become a more dangerous pass-rushing defense, posting 69 sacks in the last two seasons. But it’s been nearly a decade now since the Hoosiers had a player reach double digits in that category. Maybe that changes next year when Nile Sykes gets healthy. Maybe it does when a young lineman grows into a dangerous pass rusher. In this class, the top candidate is probably Head, an early enrollee from Miami who finished his high school career with 250 tackles and 45 sacks. Head once recorded 19 sacks in a single season, and his 6-5 frame gives him enticing length. He’ll likely need time to develop, but he could be an impact player long-term.

RB Ronnie Walker, Hopewell (Va.)

Probably the jewel of the class. Walker is a 5-10 back from near Richmond who committed to IU over, among others, Virginia and Michigan State. Now, he enters a running back room filled with young talent, but not much proven talent. Running backs can contribute early. Just ask Tevin Coleman, or last season’s leading rusher, Morgan Ellison. Could Walker, who was ranked the No. 21 running back in his class, angle for a similar workload next season? He’s expected to enroll in the spring.

Bonus pick:

PK Charles Campbell, Jackson (Tenn.) University School of Jackson

Campbell is the first kicker IU has signed to a scholarship since Mitch Ewald nine years ago. It isn’t a given that he replaces two-time Big Ten kicker of the year Griffin Oakes. But one cycle after Allen put a punter (Haydon Whitehead) on scholarship, he’s doubling down on his efforts to solidify IU’s special teams by doing the same at placekicker. Campbell is an Army All-American, and the No. 9 kicker in his class. Can he make Oakes’ old spot his own, or might he need a redshirt season, something both Oakes and Ewald got?